Saturday, March 22, 2014

Miss Maddy started saying Mama this last week. Jeff heard her first last weekend when I was out with the girls and she started getting fussy. He said she just kept saying Mama over and over. She also started waving bye. Every night we stand at the window and wave bye-bye to daddy so I'm not surprised she picked it up so quickly. She's getting to be such a big girl!

Monday, March 17, 2014

Spring cannot get here soon enough for this family. We are itching to get to work around the house, plant flowers, open the windows, play outdoors and of course......

play in the mud!

Or get stuck in the mud, as my brothers decided to do on Saturday with our Mule.

Jeff tried pulling them out with his truck, but about got stuck himself. Thankfully Zach got a winch for his Gator this Christmas and pulled them out. Now Jeff thinks we need one. What is it with the men in our neighborhood thinking they can drive in the mud and snow around here and not get stuck!

Needless to say the truck needed a wash after that adventure.

My hubby knows how anxious I am to plant flowers and see them blooming. He got me these beautiful roses for my birthday today. He's such a sweetie.

Here's a picture of my spring drink, a green smoothie.

Half a banana, handful of spinach, handful of kelp, cucumbers, mint or parsley and I switch between a pear or a kiwi, and almond milk to mix it together

Actually, I have been having these with my breakfast for the past two months. Let me just say they are delicious! They give you a lot of energy and I no longer need caffeine to get me going. However, I still can't convince Jeff to try one. Since January we have made some changes to what we are consuming. It all started when I read an article about flouride in toothpaste and began researching other harmful chemicals in what we eat and put on our bodies. Since then it has snowballed into a lot of changes in what we are and are not consuming. Shortly after making these dietary changes, I read the following devotional one morning that helped reaffirm the changes taking place in our pantry and in exercising. This was published in January by Charles Stanley in his In Touch monthly devotional:

"We all know there is an undeniable relationship between our health and our ability to reach our full potential. We may labor to have a clean heart, a clear mind, and a balanced schedule, but without a healthy body, we simply cannot do our best. And good health will be enhanced when we begin to think about our bodies the way God does.

In the sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians the apostle Paul teaches that our bodies belong to the living God (vv. 19-20). As a result, we all have a decision: am I going to take care of my body, or will I ignore or abuse it?

None of us would walk into church and deliberately make a big mess, smearing red or black paint all over the place where God's people worship. With that in mind, consider this. The human body, because it is indwelt by the Holy Spirir, is far more important than any house of worship that ever existed.

Nevertheless, people often assume that neglecting or mistreating the body is their own prerogative. Whether the issue is substance abuse, abortion, or unhealthy habits, many people will say, 'This is my body. I can do with it whatever I want.' But as we read in Scripture, your body is not your possession. Although you can do as you please, you will pay the price for poor decisions. Sin has its consequences, and sin against the body can inflict a penalty that lasts even beyond the present generation. Ask God to help you regard the body as He does so that you will care for it appropriately."

Over the last two months change has been hard on everyone, but I never thought it would be easy. We've had some battles, but the kiddos are getting to a point where they ask me if something they are eating is a wise choice. I plan on sharing some recipes we are using on here from time as well as other products we have switched to.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Jeff was very humbled when asked to become a deacon back in January. With a lot of prayer, we both felt that this was our next faith walk with God and our church. We are so blessed to be part of such an uplifting and loving church family that we can't imagine our lives without them. It was such an honor for Jeff to be commissioned last Sunday. I'm so proud of him.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Sitting on her own, drinking from a sippy cup, enjoys having her teeth brushed, loves bath time, not wanting to take her bottle as often, rolling all over the place, and is a usually a pretty happy girl

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

I have been terrible about keeping up with our blog lately. Life gets a little crazy around here and I'm one tired mama by bedtime. So hears a recap of what happened around here in February......

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Nate joined us for our date night. He was needing a little time alone with mom and dad. Of course he wanted to match daddy and go to what he calls "Applebeans" for dinner.

We enjoyed family night with our church family at the bowling alley.

It happened to be the same night of the Superbowl. I think Jeff is about through mourning over the loss.

Livy has been taking a pottery class with our home school group. It's a nice time for mom too, as we home school moms get to sit around and talk for awhile.

I have no idea what these two are suppose to be. They came to breakfast last week dressed like Rambo.

Daddy and Josh busy working on making Mind-craft pickaxes.

They turned out to be really cute.

Hopefully this will be the last snowman of the season. I'm not sure why Nate's holding his fishing pole.

We took Maddy to see her first play, Charlotte's Web, two weeks ago. They all enjoyed it.

Somebody likes blueberries!

Jeff has been doing such a great job of keeping the boys busy this winter as we try and limit the electronics.

He took them out to the shop to practice whittling last week.

Maddy is ready to roll.

Laney and Maddy at youth group. Laney tells everyone that Maddy is her God-sister. It's so sweet!

Jeff and I are rotating with other parents in leading our kids youth group. We have had a lot of fun hanging out with all the kiddos. Maddy of course loves getting all of the attention,. Notice she is now sitting on her own!!

Hanging out with Aunt Andy at youth group. So spoiled!

I love this picture of our two girls!

We headed to the Children's Museum last Wednesday.

Pretending to be divers.

Checking out artifacts from a pirate ship.

They were excited to sit in a real race car,

They always have to ride the carousel.

Maddy was fascinated with watching the balls drop.

She loved to look at herself in the mirrors.

Livy and Jeff stacking dominoes.

This was the reason we went to the museum. Liv and Josh are studying World War 2 in school and I wanted them to see some artifacts from that time. They also watched a play about Anne Frank.

Getting ready to watch a play about Ruby Bridges.

He's such a good daddy!

Another project Jeff has the boys involved in this week. Taking old machines apart to see how they work and make new ones. Nate told me yesterday that he has the coolest dad ever!

Last Tuesday our home school group had talent night. This was a great opportunity to practice speaking in front of an audience. Olivia played Bach's minuet in G major.

Liv and Josh recited a poem by Christina Rossetti. Also, Liv, Josh and Nate displayed artwork they have been working on in school. Good job kiddos!I will try and do a better job in March!

About Us

We've been married for 19 years with Jesus as our foundation. By God's grace,we are blessed to have 4 children. We are teaching our kiddos at home by implementing the Charlotte Mason method into their daily lives and lessons.